Process for generating combustible gas



Aug. 11, 1936." c. o. WANNACK 2,050,514

I vPROCESS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE GAS Filed Nov. 1, 1929 Zlfz 17255"; ,fizz entors (rl Otto lzfarznack, W J%W%Q%@% Patented Aug. 11, I936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE 2,050,514 7 PROCESS FOR, GENE iA TTNGCOMBUSTIBLE Application November 1,1929, Serial No. 404,018

3 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to a novel method of intimatelyassociating a stream of combustible liquid and a stream of air, bothunder pressure in such a manner as to form a stable uniform B. t. u.combustible gas.

One of the important features of my invention comprises a novel methodof directing, in angular relation, a stream of air under pressure into astream of combustible liquid under pressure to produce a combustiblegas, the actuating pressure for both streams being derived from the samesource.

Briefly described, my invention consists in disposing a container Withinan enclosed vessel, the latter adapted to contain a bulk supply ofcombustible liquid, and passing the liquid from the bulk supply to thecontainer when the pressure within the vessel exceeds the pressurewithin the container; then establishing a pressure within the containergreater than the pressure within the enclosed vessel by introducing airunder pressure into the container, thereby expelling a quantity ofliquid in the form of a stream into the upper portion of the vessel notoccupied by the bulk supply of liquid, and simultaneously diverting aquantity of compressed air at an angle to and into said stream ofliquid, thereby intimately associating the liquid and the air streamsand generating a combustible gas.

It is a well known physical fact that the rapid evaporation orvolatilization of a liquid is endothermic, that is, heat is absorbedfrom the medium in the vicinity of the evaporation and the temperaturethereabout is considerably lowered.

In the generation of a combustible gas, particularly by intimatelyassociating a stream of combustible liquid under pressure and a streamof air under pressure, I have found that, if the point of intersectionof the two streams, that is, the point that evaporation orvolatilization takes place, is too close to the air nozzle or orificethrough which the air is projected,the temperature of the mediumadjacent the orifice is lowered to such an extent that water or moistureentrained in the air may freeze and in so. doing seals with ice or snowthe discharge opening of the air nozzle or orifice, thus rendering thedevice inoperative.

One of the salient features of the present invention resides in themethodof associating and intimately mixing a stream of combustibleliquid under pressure with a stream of air under pressure, in such amanner as to avoid this objection.

In one mode of carrying out the present invention a pipe may be utilizedtocarry combustible liquid, under pressure, from a point of storage toan open end of the pipe which may be equipped with or without a nozzle,as desired. Another pipe carries air under pressure and may be providedwith an opening or orifice in its wall. The relative positioning of theliquid discharge pipe and the air orifice may be such that the stream ofair issuing from the orifice intersects the stream of liquid ejectedfrom the pipe at an angle, preferably a right angle.

I have found that, by suitably arranging the position of the abovementioned instrumentalities so that the point of intersection of the twostreams is relatively remote from the air orifice or air discharge,freezing of the moisture entrained in the air will not take place untilthe air has left the air discharge opening, and hence the opening ororifice will be maintained free from the objectionable formation of snowor ice.

It is to be understood, of course, that the instrumentalities enumeratedabove are specified merely for the sake of example and are not intendedto limit the invention, inasmuch as the invention in its broadestaspects merely contemplates the directing of the respective streams, by

such means as may be conveniently used, in such a manner as to permitthe streams to intersect at an angle.

Other and further important features of the present invention will beapparent from the acgompanying drawing and following detail descriplOIl.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section,illustrating a group of instrumentalities suitable for carrying out myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail elevation of a suitable air and liquiddirecting means.

7 Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of air orifice.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l indicates generally a tank orclosed container provided with a turret or manhead 2 closed by a coverplate 3 fastened to the manhead by means of bolts or the like 4. Thetank-l is also provided with a .filler pipe 5 which projects downwardlyto substantially the center of the tank, which pipe may be provided witha screen 6.

A cylindrical coupling 1 is welded or other-- be delivered. A nipple.H], which virtually comprises a continuation of the line 9 within theturret, connects a bushing II positioned within the coupling I to a Tcoupling I2, which in turn is mounted upon the upper end of a pipe I3,comprising a portion of the carbureter proper. A union I4 may beinterposed in the pipe I3 to facilitate the connecting and disconnectingof the various lines.

The lower end of the pipe I3 is threadedly, or otherwise suitablyconnected to the top of an enclosed cylinder I5, preferably of largerdiameter than the pipe I3. A one way inlet or check valve I6 may beprovided at the lower portion of the cylinder I5 and is adapted to bedisposed below the liquid level of the tank I It is apparent thatwhenever the pressure outside the valve 1.6, that is, the tank pressure,is greater than the pressure within the cylinder I5, that is, the pressure established in line 9, or the blower pressure as the same willhereinafter be referred to, liquid will enter the cylinder from the tankthrough said valve. Provided, also, in the lower portion of the cylinderI5 at a point substantially diametrically opposite the valve I6 is anoutlet, in which an elbow I! is positioned. The other .end of the elbowis connected to a pipe 18 -of comparatively restricted diameter whichmay extend upwardly to the top of the carbureter proper and then doubleback adjacent the pipe I3, as shown.

An orifice I9 may be provided in the side .of the pipe I3 adjacent thedischarge end of the pipe I8. I have found it advantageous, for reasonsto be hereinafter brought out, to position the discharge end of the pipeI8 a slight distance away from the pipe I3, say from one-half to two ortwo and one-half inches, more or less, but I do not wish to be limitedto these specific distances, inasmuch as the distance is dependent uponvarious factors all of which are controlling. Liquid from the cylinderI5 is adapted to be forced through the pipe I8 and discharged adjacentthe orifice I9 from which a blast of air issues. A vapor or fog is thusformed within the tank, and due to the rapid vaporization, thetemperature in the vicinity of the point at which this vaporizationtakes place is greatly reduced. 'By disposing the discharge end of thepipe 48 a slight distance from the orifice I9, the tendency for anymoisture carried by the air to freeze at the orifice is eliminated. Ihave also found that by cutting down the surface of the pipe I3, asshown best at 20 in Fig. 2, providing a very thin peripheral edgedefining the orifice, it becomes mechanically impossible for a formationof ice to build upon the edge of the orifice, hence the air always hasfree exit from the orifice unobstructed by any ice formation. Inaddition, a knife edge orifice, as is well known, decreases friction.

Although the discharge end of pipe I8 is shown and described as beingabove the orifice I9,a s is preferable inasmuch as all the liquiddischarged from the pipe It must, of necessity, pass through the streamof air, the invention in its broadest aspects contemplates directing theliquid discharge past the orifice either from above or below, or fromeither side thereof.

The arm of the T coupling I2 opposite the nipple I0 may have operativelyconnected thereto a check valve 2 I, provided'for several purposes, allof which contribute to the safe automatic operation of the apparatus.For instance,'assur ne that the pipe line 9 is accidentally opened whilegas pressure exists in the tank, and further assume that the valve M isnot provided. A difference of pressure will then exist onthe surfaces ofthe liquid in the tank and in the cylinder. Hence, liquid will flow fromthe tank to the cylinder, inasmuch as the tank pressure will be thegreater, and the liquid will flow back through the pipe 9. Of course,gas will escape from the tank to the pipe I 3 through the orifice I9,and tend to equalize the pressures on the cylinder liquid and the tankliquid but, due to the relatively small area of the orifice, the liquidin the cylinder will rise above the orifice before this equilibrium canbe established. By placing the valve 2I in the system, the gas pressurein the tank will immediately be relieved before the liquid in thecylinder rises. Hence, undesirable back flow of liquid from the tanktoward the point of gas consumption will be automatically eliminated.

In carrying out my invention I introduce a quantity of combustibleliquid, such as gasoline, pentane, hexane, benzol, alcohol, or the like,into the tank I through the filler pipe 5 until a desirable level isreached, for instance, half full. Initially, the pressure within thetank I and the pressure within the cylinder I5 will be equal, but thehead of liquid in the tank will cause a flow of liquid from the tankthrough the check valve It to the cylinder I5, which flow will continueuntil the pressure on each side of the check valve is equal. Thiscondition will occur when the head of liquid in the cylinder is equal tothe head in the tank. Air under pressure may then be introduced throughthe pipe 9, and a stream of air will issue from the orifice I9 in thepipe 53, but, due to the comparatively restricted area of the orifice,

and the quantity of air being introduced, a pressure will be establishedin the cylinder l5 above the liquid contained therein, greater than thepressure in the tank I. Both check valves I6 and 2I will -be closed dueto this difference in pressure, and hence, liquid will be forced fromthe cylinder I5 through the pipe I8, discharging at an angle to the axisof the stream of air issuing from the orifice I9, thus intimately mixingthe liquid and air and generating a combustible gas.

When the tank pressure reaches a certain .de-

sired maximum, say for example, four pounds per square inch, more orless, the air introduced through the pipe .9 may be stopped, preferablyby some suitable pressure actuated automatic means (not shown)communicating with the interior of tank I, whereupon, due to thecommunication established by the orifice bet-ween the tank, cylinder andcheck valve 2I the pressures within the two containers will soon reachan equilibrium. The valve I6 will again open and the liquid level in thecylinder will again raise to the level of the tank liquid. As gas isdrawn from the tank through a gas outlet pipe 22 the pressure thereinwill be reduced, hence, if desired, when the tank pressure falls to apredetermined minimum, say for example, one pound per square inch, moreor *less, pressure-actuated automatic means .(not

shown) may be resorted to to again supply air and generate more gas.This cyclic procedure may continue until the liquid in the tank issubstantially exhausted.

A modified method of associating the liquid stream with the stream ofair may comprise the discharging of the liquid stream or the air stream,or both, in the form of a thin sheet or ribbon, and permitting the tworibbon-like streams to intersect, and intimately associate the liquidand the air. In carrying out this modification the discharge end of thepipe I 8 may be provided with a relatively long, narrow aperture (notshown),

whereas the air orifice may assume the form of a relatively long narrowslit, as shown at I9 in Fig. 3.

It is apparent that I have provided a method of carbureting acombustible gas, the procedure of which is simple, and yet theassociation of the air and liquid is carried out most efficiently. Bythe use of my process, but one pressure producing source is required forboth the air stream and the liquid stream.

By the expression positive pressure as used in the specification andclaims is meant pressure as opposed to vacuum, induction, or negativepressure.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing abulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodicallydischarging a predetermined quantity of said liquid from the bulk supplyto a separate closed zone, periodically introducing air under superatmospheric pressure into said separate closed zone and simultaneouslyisolating the liquid in said separate closed zone from the liquid insaid bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from said separateclosed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during the period ofadmission of air to said separate closed zone, and simultaneouslydischarging an unconfined stream of air under pressure from saidseparate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with saiddischarged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized andconverted into a combustible gas, and storing said gas in said firstmentioned closed zone.

2. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing abulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodicallydischarging a predetermined quantity of said liquid from the bulk supplyto a separate closed zone, periodically introducing air undersuperatmospheric pressure into said separate closed zone andsimultaneously isolating the liquid in said separate closed zone fromthe liquid in said bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from saidseparate closed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during theperiod of admission of air to said separate closed zone, andsimultaneously discharging an unconfined stream-of air under pressurefrom said separate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with saiddischarged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized andconverted into a combustible gas, maintaining the point of contact ofsaid liquid and air streams spaced a sufiicient distance from the airstream discharge opening so that mixture entrained in the air is notfrozen at said air stream discharge opening, and storing said gas insaid first mentioned closed zone.

3. A process of generating combustible gas which comprises, storing abulk supply of combustible liquid in a closed zone, periodicallydischarging a predetermined quantity of said liquid 5 from the bulksupply toa separate closed zone, periodically introducing air undersuperatmospheric pressure into said separate closed Zone andsimultaneously isolating the liquid in said separate closed zone fromthe liquid in said bulk supply, discharging a stream of liquid from saidseparate closed zone into said first mentioned closed zone during theperiod of admission of air to said separate closed zone, andsimultaneously discharging an unconfined stream of air under pressurefrom said separate closed zone at an angle to and into contact with saiddischarged stream of liquid whereby said liquid is atomized andconverted into a combustible gas, and maintaining the point of contactof said liquid and air streams spaced a sufficient distance from a solidbody with which the air stream may come in contact prior to or duringcontacting of the liquid stream so that the mixture contained in the airstream will not condense or freeze upon said solid body.

CARL OTTO WANNACK.

